Mail-package.



' B. L. DOTSON.

I MAIL PACKAGE.

Patented N0v. 23, 1909.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BOYD L. DOTSON, 0F GREENWOOD, WEST VIRGINIA.

MAIL-PACKAGE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BOYD L. Do'rsoN, citizen of the United States, residing at Greenwood, in the county of Doddridge and State of West Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Mail-Packages, of which the following is a specification.

My invention pertains to temporary packages constructed with a view of being readily opened and closed; and it contemplates the provision of a package for mail matter of various descriptions, designed to be expeditiously and easily placed in and removed from pigeon holes, and to receive while in an open or loose state a number of pieces of superposed mail, and this in such manner that when sufficient mail is disposed in the package the same may be removed from the pigeon hole and then tightened to bind and hold the pieces of mail together.

With the foregoing in mind, the invention will be fully understood from the following description and claim when the same are read in connection with the drawings, accompanying and forming part of this specification, in which:

Figure 1 is a view showing my novel package, partly in end elevation and partly in transverse section, as properly arranged in a. pigeon hole of a mail case or set of pigeon holes. Fig. 2 is a view taken at a right angle to Fig. l and in the plane of the line 2-2 of said figure. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the package per 86 with a portion of its strap broken away.

Similar letters designate corresponding parts in all of the views of the drawings, referring to which:

A is a pigeon hole of conventional or any other approved type, and B is the body of my novel package. The said body B is preferably, though not necessarily, made of wood, and is, by preference, slightly convex in the direction of its width and at its up per side, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 3. In its under side and at its middle the body is provided with a transverse groove C, Fig. 2, and the said groove merges at its ends into notches D, Fig. 3, formed in the side edges of the body. It will also be observed by comparison of the three figures of the drawings, that the body is provided in its under side and at both of its ends with recesses E which constitute important features thereof. The said recesses E are gradually diminished in height from the ends of the body Specification of Letters Patent.

AppIication filed July 26, 1909.

Patented Nov. 23, 1909. Serial No. 509,497.

to points adjacent the groove O, and from the longitudinal center of the body to the longitudinal edges thereof, and from this it followsthat the recesses permit of the ready interposition of the fingers of the hand between'the bottom of a pigeon hole and the presented end of the body, and con sequently enable a postal clerk to conveniently take hold of and remove the package from a pigeonhole even when the package is filled with pieces of mail matter to a point adjacent the top wall of the pigeon hole.

In addition to the body B having the characteristics described, my novel package comprises a strap F, preferably of leather, equipped with a buckle G and a keeper loop H and terminating in an apertured portion I, designed to rest between the buckle G and the mail matter, Fig. l, with a View of preventing the buckle from tearing or otherwise marring the mail matter. It will be noticed in this connection that the buckle G and the keeper loop H are connected with the major portion of the strap F through a tab J, also preferably of leather, arranged at the outer side of the strap. The strap F extends through the transverse groove C of the body and is permanently connected to the body through rivets K, and when the strap is looped above the body the side or upright portions of the loop rest in the notches D of the body, and consequently the said upright portions are retained in the transverse center of the body and against casual movement toward either end thereof.

In the practical use of the package, the same is placed in a pigeon hole, and mail matter is superposed piece by piece on the body B until sufficient mail matter for a package is collected, whereupon the package is withdrawn from the pigeon hole, and its strap is tightened and secured by adjustably connecting the strap or rather the end thereof to the buckle G.

My invention contemplates the use of a number of the packages in a number of pigeon holes at the same time, and also contemplates using each package repeatedly,and on account of the simplicity, strength and durability of the packages they will be found in practice to be more economical than the twine that is commonly used in tying mail matter, and is then thrown away.

The specific construction herein illustrated and described constitutes the best practical embodiment of my invention of Which I am cognizant, but it is obvious that in the future practice of the invention such changes or modifications may be made as do not involve departure from the scope of my invention as defined in my appended claim.

Having described my invention, What I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is:

A package comprising a body having recesses in its under side and at its ends and also having a transverse central groove in its under side, and notches in opposite edges and in communication with said groove and further having an upper side slightly convex in cross-section, a strap extending through the transverse groove of the body and having an apertured end portion, a buckle connected With the strap and arranged at the outer side of the said apertured end portion, and rivets permanently connecting the body and the strap together.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

Born L. DOTSON.

Vitnesses G120. G. CRoUsE, JOHN J. INGLE. 

